Sweden

For a country with such a tiny population — 10 million to be exact — Sweden has had an outsized influence on popular culture. In the 70s, the white jumpsuits and platform shoes of Abba made the international jet-set curious about the cool Nordic chic of Stockholm. Today, über hip brands like Acne, Nudie, and even mega-chain H&M have helped turn this Scandinavian country into a mecca for fashion, cutting edge design and minimalist architecture.

From Stockholm to Malmö and Gothenburg, Sweden has remade the idea of what a perfect city should be, with its green building initiatives and sleek city planning, thriving artist communities and music scenes. If, however, you like snow and adventure and don’t mind a little Nordic chill, we recommend hiking up to the north to witness the aurora borealis or one of the country’s many “ice hotels”.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo might have portrayed this country as one of menace and intrigue, but in reality it’s a laidback nation with a passion for nature. After visiting the world-class galleries and music festivals the country has become famous for, take a winding trip through the countryside. (There’s a reason why the wildflowers and red-painted-farmhouses of rural Sweden have become iconic). Just a warning: at one of the highest altitudes in Europe, the air is so clear and crisp you might just have to bottle it and take some home.

The nation of three golden crowns, sandwiched between Norway, Finland and Denmark, Sweden is proud of its heritage, history, royals and general position in the world, and is, simply put, a great country.

ABBA, Volvo and Greta Garbo have all helped secure Sweden in our hearts - recent notoriety, however, of the Nordic Noir tales and films including Girl with the Dragon Tattoo have attracted a new lover of everything Swedish. Sweden is the quiet inventor giving the world the first handheld phone from Ericson, Spotify, Skype and leading fashion brands such as of H&M, Acne and Nudie to name but a few. Sweden brings its particular DNA to the global table. The land of harmony and thousands of flickering candles, long summer days, red painted farm houses, a pureness in design and natural beauty - Sweden is a wonderful hub for creative aficionados, foodies, antique hunters, lovers of the individualist, fashionistas and those seeking culture delightfully chilled.

We’ve ports of call in the Swedish capital Stockholm and second city Gothenburg, also known as the 'Little London'.

Sweden

A maritime urban city known for its chic minimalism — from clothes, to architecture, to healthy eating — Stockholm’s quiet sophistication seamlessly marries its Royalist heritage with modernist functionality.

Sweden

On the shores of the westernmost coastline of Sweden, the port town Gothenburg gazes out to open seas across the archipelago. Known affectionately as “Little London”, Sweden’s second city is enjoying resurgence as one the hottest and must-do places to visit.

DESIGN BY US is owned by Rasmus Larsson and Lisette Bernhoft. Rasmus has a degree from The Danish Design School and Lisette had extensive training and experience from Montana before coming to DESIGN BY US.

Two of our favourite cities collude – Vienna and Stockholm. Infamous Swedish design company Svenskt Tenn from Stockholm has teamed up with the artistic merits of the Hotel Altstadt in Vienna’s creative district to install a tribute to fellow Austrian, architect and master of modernism and applied arts – Joseph Frank and the new suite.

The summer festival season is off to an amazing start. Across Europe it seems like it’s going to be one long glorious summer of pouring into the streets and celebrating whatever is at hand. In Gothenburg they’ll be celebrating the 40th year of the Hammarkullekarnevalen. Similar to many carnivals of culture that happen in other European cities, the Hammarkullekarnevalen has Latin American flair, but it really is a citywide celebration of diversity.

Meet Maria Svensson and Lisa Leierth, two wool-loving ladies from Gothenburg on the Swedish west coast. Based in an art-collective studio space with ten other designers and artists, they create the knitwear that they had always dreamed of wearing as spotted by the owners of the creative fashionista den of Gothenburg, HOTEL FLORA.

There are plenty of reasons for not wearing a helmet – it seriously messes up your hair, it’s way to big and bulky to carry around in a bar, and, well, let’s not go into the nerd factor. But, are any of these good reasons? Not really.

Meander through the historic cobblestone streets of Stockholm’s Old Town and you’ll soon discover Lena M Sweden – a traditional Swedish handicrafts shop that doubles as the design studio of its charming owner, Lena M Karlsson.

Welcome to Gothenburg, otherwise known as ‘Little London’ and one of Sweden’s best-kept secrets. If you ever feel the need to breath in some refreshing Scandinavian air but are looking for a slower pace of life than the fast moving New York vibe of Stockholm, Gothenburg on Sweden’s west coast is surely the place to be.